McKnight dances to new high

October 01, 2006|JEFF CARROLL Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- The difference between a day like Rhema McKnight had Saturday and an average afternoon of football? The quarterback, of course. "Every receiver thinks they're open every play," McKnight joked after his team's 35-21 victory over Purdue, a game in which the fifth-year senior caught a career-high 10 passes for 120 yards. McKnight was just 1 yard shy of his career-high of 121 yards, obtained three years ago against Boston College. That effort came in a demoralizing Irish loss, a game Notre Dame let slip from its grasp in the final minute. They weren't letting anything slip from their grasp against the Boilermakers, in large part because McKnight didn't let much slip from his. His 10 receptions gave him 135 for his career, bringing him ever closer to Tom Gatewood's Notre Dame career record of 157. Fellow current Irish receiver Jeff Samardzija is right behind with 128. As usual, McKnight was one of the most demonstrative members of the Irish team in the on-field postgame celebration, dancing as he disappeared from view into the tunnel. McKnight has always seemed to enjoy playing the game even more than most, but the ordeal that was his 2005 season has helped put even more spring into those dance steps. ND's most accomplished receiver heading into last year, McKnight injured his knee against Michigan, the second game of the season, and never returned to action. "I'm just thankful to be alive each and every day," he said. "College football is great. You know, it's funny because I think last year after a while and over time you start to take things for granted. "Each and every time I step on the field, each and every play, I'm grateful to get an opportunity to play and grateful to be a Notre Dame Fighting Irish football player." ND quarterback Brady Quinn, McKnight and Samardzija spent extra time in the week leading into Saturday's game working on what Quinn termed "non-verbal communication" as the offense works to put behind early inconsistency. "Everyone kind of knew where everyone was at and everyone had a pretty good feel about it," Samardzija said. Non-verbal communication seems to be against the instincts of both McKnight and Samardzija, two of the most chatty players in the Notre Dame lineup during games. "We just have fun out there," Samardzija said. "Me and Rhema have a great time in the huddle, on the sidelines, going to the huddle, coming back from plays. It's how we are. We're a little on the light side." McKnight now has 32 catches for 433 yards in 2006. The player he replaced, current Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Maurice Stovall, had 23 catches for 388 yards through five games a year ago on the way to one of the most prolific receiving seasons in school history. "When a guy goes out and has a game like Rhema had and makes the plays he had, it's fun," Samardzija said. "It's great for the offense, it's great for the team. When there's so many guys you can count on on offense it makes things great." Even after missing last season, McKnight has begun to move onto the radar of many NFL draft analysts. One online ranking service has him 10th among current seniors, and that was before Saturday. "He's committed to helping this team win as many games as he can and obviously performances like today only help him personally, as well," ND coach Charlie Weis said. Count Purdue coach Joe Tiller as a fan -- two years ago, McKnight had 113 yards in the Boilermakers' blowout victory at Notre Dame Stadium. On Saturday, McKnight caught two third-down passes to keep Irish drives alive in the second half, both third-and-7 or longer. That helped ND convert on 8-of-14 third downs, a performance they desperately needed. "I think McKnight is exceptional at that," Tiller said. "I think that's what he does the best, but yet he has the ability to run by you. So he's a real handful." McKnight is a psychology graduate student at Notre Dame. And right now, his psyche is better than most. "I'm enjoying every moment of it," McKnight said. "I've always enjoyed every moment of it. You're just happy to be out there and able to play."Staff Writer Jeff Carroll (574) 235-6382 jcarroll@sbtinfo.com